Arts & Culture

When the realities of her world weigh her down, Lucha uses music to add magic into the lives of her family and friends. Her hopes of performing seem like a fantasy until she assembles a spunky group of female mariachi musicians who are ready to make her dreams come true. As they practice, perform and break with tradition, their music sparks a transformation in the lives of those around them – especially Lucha’s parents. This humorous, heartwarming story about music’s power to heal and connect includes gorgeous live mariachi music played on stage.

Arvada Center presents "All My Sons" - March 2 through May 3. Winner of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the first-ever Best Play Tony Award, All My Sons is a powerful American classic that explores the dark side of the American dream, complex family dynamics and a person’s responsibility to the world beyond his own home. Based on the true story of an Ohio manufacturer who sold faulty parts to the U.S. military during World War II, the play’s central character faces the true cost of his choices and their devastating impact on the family he loves.

Set in a tiny sewing factory in East Los Angeles, “Real Women Have Curves” is marked by the issues of family values, gender politics and the Latina immigrant experience. The play is told from the point of view of Ana, the youngest employee at the factory. Ambitious and bright, Ana yearns to go to college but doesn’t have the money. The action of the play occurs over the course of five hot summer days at the factory, as the women talk about their lives, fears and deepest desires while attempting to meet impossible production deadlines.

Pachucos y Sirenas explores the roles that fashion plays in developing a cultural Identity in major urban settings. The exhibition will feature old school and new school artists that share an affinity with the Pachuco legacy. Artists such as Justin Favela, Antonia Fernandez, Carlos Fresquez, Josiah Lopez, Jerry Vigil, and Daniel Salazar will highlight the impact that the 1940’s Pachuco legacy had on the American experience. Exhibition programming will include contributing fashion designers Cha Cha Romero and Alexandra Peralta, Suavecito Car Club, and artist Alfredo Cardenas.

The alchemy of a darkened theatre, a room full of peers, and a larger-than-life story transforms a film into something much greater than the sum of its parts. It is an art form and a community building experience. It is entertainment and a reflection of our collective humanity. It is a magic that cannot be replicated on-demand or on ever-shrinking screens. When you see someone’s identity and values revealed on the big screen, their experience – their existence – is validated.